The Ahmad family of Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh is set to celebrate this year’s Independence Day with a renewed sense of freedom and relief. After enduring a one-year sentence in a Pakistani jail on charges of “carrying a pistol” while returning to India, the family is finally returning to their homeland, TOI reports. The incident, which took place in July 2022, raised questions about the circumstances of their arrest and led to speculations about their involvement in illegal activities.
The family comprises seventy-year-old Nafees Ahmad, who worked as a hawker, his wife Amana, 65, and their son Kaleem, 35. They had embarked on a journey to Pakistan to visit their relatives, aiming to reconnect with their extended family. However, their plans took an unexpected turn when they were apprehended by Pakistani authorities near the border while allegedly carrying an illegal pistol.
The arrest prompted concerns on both sides of the border, with Indian officials initially expressing uncertainty about the details surrounding the incident. It was suggested that the family might have been associated with a “kabootarbazi gang,” a term used to describe individuals involved in smuggling goods across borders. The ambiguity surrounding the arrest further fueled speculation and raised questions about the circumstances that led to the family’s detention.
In a significant turn of events, the Ahmad family was handed over to Indian security agencies and a Border Security Force (BSF) officer by Pakistan Rangers at the Wagah border on Friday. The reunion at the border marked the end of the family’s year-long ordeal in a foreign jail and the beginning of their journey back home.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an intelligence officer acknowledged that while the family’s return was a positive development, it would still take some time for them to reach their home in India, as per Times of India. The officer mentioned that such cases require adherence to protocols at various levels before the family can be fully reunited with their loved ones.
The Chenab Times News Desk